Alex Mitnick combines teaching skills with compositions
By:Emily Craighead
Conflict resolution is a mouthful for first- or second-grade students, but put to music, Kaleidoscope Songs make changing the world through caring, sharing and understanding into child’s play.
"Alan’s gift is to take these huge issues and narrow it down to the simplest form," said Hillsborough songwriter and producer Alex Mitnick of his collaborator, lyricist Alan Bell of Philadelphia, Pa.
On Oct. 24, Mr. Mitnick of Millstone River Road and Mr. Bell released "Kaleidoscope Songs Number One," a compact disc of 15 original children’s songs.
With titles such as "I Am," "The Family Song" and "The Who’s Who Song," the tracks bring to life the challenges of growing up, by teaching children self-awareness and an appreciation for the world.
"The timing is good," Mr. Mitnick said. "This cuts across all lines, and we have so many divides right now. With these words, it cuts through all that and goes directly to the heart of the child."
He describes Kaleidoscope Songs as educational, but less "preachy" than some children’s music.
The inspiration to create a CD came after Mr. Mitnick and Mr. Bell wrote a musical for Mr. Mitnick’s first- and second-grade students at the Princeton Montessori School. The musical, "How Our Town Saved the Peace," was written in late 2001, as the country stood on the brink of war.
Mr. Mitnick, 29, who graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and once aspired to be a jazz guitarist in New York City, directs the Princeton Montessori School music program for infants through eighth grade. He has lived in Hillsborough for five years.
Mr. Bell, 59, grew up in South Africa under apartheid and co-founded Archedream, a dance drama company, and HumanKind, an organization dedicated to AIDS prevention education.
Incorporating components of Montessori methods emphasizing self-motivation, peace and respect in the songs, Mr. Mitnick said catchy tunes and memorable lyrics capture the attention of children and their parents.
"It’s about creating an environment for a child to experience learning," he said. "If you make music fun to sing and the lesson important, they will learn it."
Some of those lessons aren’t always easy for parents to bring up at the dinner table or before bedtime, but everyone can sing along with the voice coming through the stereo, Mr. Mitnick said.
"This is a tool for parents and teachers to use to help them connect with children," he said.
Mr. Mitnick and Mr. Bell plan to release three more CDs within the next year, incorporating themes of appreciation, perception and emotion.
"Kaleidoscope Songs Number One" is available at Learning Express in Hillsborough and at www.kaleidoscopesongs.com.
Mr. Mitnick and his seven-member band including drum set, percussion, bass, keyboards, guitar, singers and violin will perform a free concert at the Princeton Library Dec. 12.